Welcome to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast. This is episode 31.

Last time, we saw the conspiracy to assassinate Cao Cao fall apart, and most of the conspirators were promptly executed,

with the exception of Ma Teng and Liu Bei, who were out of Cao Cao's reach at the moment.

Cao Cao then mounted an expedition against Liu Bei in Xu province. Liu Bei and his brother

Zhang Fei tried to raid Cao Cao's camp, but were routed.

With their forces gone, Zhang Fei hold up on Mount Mang Dang,

while Liu Bei ran off to seek refuge with Yuan Shao,

once again leaving his family behind.

So after they successfully quashed Liu Bei's night raid,

Cao Cao's forces easily took Xiaoupei.

They then moved on to Xu province,

where two of Liu Bei's civil officials,

Mi Zhu and Jian Yong, were no match for the might of Cao Cao's army.

So they abandoned the city and fled.

After that, Chen Deng, who had served Cao Cao while remaining

secretly loyal to Liu Bei, flung open the city gates and welcomed Cao Cao Cao. After the usual routine of

assuring the people of the city that they were not about to be massacred, Cao Cao gathered his advisors

to discuss how to take the

city of Xia Pi, where Liu Bei's brother Guan Yu was stationed.

Guan Yu is there protecting Liu Bei's family, one of the advisors, Xun Yu, said.

He would no doubt defend the city to the last. We must take it quickly, or it might fall into Yuan Shao's hand.

I have always admired Guan Yu's abilities, Cao Cao said.

...